Vijay Gurbaxani

Vijay Gurbaxani is the Taco Bell Endowed Professor of Information Systems and Computer Science and Director of the Center for Digital Transformation (CDT) at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. He holds a prominent academic position and leads a major research center focused on the intersection of business and technology in the digital age.

His educational background includes a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Rochester and an integrated Master's in Mathematics and Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. His doctoral thesis was recognized as the best dissertation in a global competition by the International Center for Information Technologies.

Dr. Gurbaxani's research centers on the strategic impact of information technology and digital transformation. His work explores how emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, enable business model innovation, the economics of IT investment, and strategic sourcing of IT-enabled services. He applies economic principles to analyze strategic management challenges in technology adoption and digital innovation.

His selected publications and research have appeared in top-tier journals such as Information Systems Research, Management Science, MIS Quarterly, and Sloan Management Review. His work consistently addresses the value of IT, digital transformation, and the evolving role of technology in shaping competitive advantage.

He has been honored with the 2002 Outsourcing World Achievement Award in the Academic category for his expertise in IT outsourcing. This recognition underscores his influence and thought leadership in the field.

Dr. Gurbaxani has raised over $5 million in research funding from the National Science Foundation and industry partners. He has held significant leadership roles at the Merage School, including Senior Associate Dean (2006–2008) and Associate Dean of the MBA program (2004–2006 and 1995–1999), where he led curriculum innovation and established the school’s strategic focus on IT in business. He also served as a Research Fellow at Computer Sciences Corporation and has been a visiting scholar at Stanford and MIT business schools.

He leads the Center for Digital Transformation, which fosters collaboration between academia and industry, hosts executive events, and advances thought leadership in AI and digital strategy. The center engages business leaders, faculty, and students in shaping the future of digital leadership.